The visionary behind South Africa’s first black-owned winery, Carmen Stevens, received the prestigious 1659 Visionary Leadership Award during the wine industry’s annual celebration of the first vintage on local soil.
Stevens, the owner of Carmen Stevens Wines, count among the winners announced at the SA Wine Harvest Commemorative Event. Every year on 2 February the wine industry gathers to remember the 1659 vintage. The virtual event, hosted at Groot Constantia, involved the blessing of the harvest, a celebration of the industry’s 363rd anniversary.
Other trailblazers honoured include Denise Stubbs, the managing director of Thokozani. Both her parents were farmworkers before she became the majority shareholder of the Thokozani Group of Companies. Stubbs received the diversity and transformation award.
Furthermore, the Vinpro stalwart and wine industry legend Francois Viljoen received the Viticulture and Wine Creation Award in recognition for his contribution to the South African wine industry.
‘An advocate for viticulture’
In a media release, wine industry body Vinpro says Viljoen has been a viticulturist for the past 36 years. Prior to taking up his position at the helm of Vinpro’s Gen-Z Vineyard Project in July 2019, he was the manager of Vinpro’s consultation services for 20 years. During this time he led a team of expert viticulturists and soil scientists.
“Francois truly is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award,” says Vinpro chairman Anton Smuts. “He is not only an expert in his field and advocate for viticulture as a profession, but is passionate about sharing and exchanging ideas, best practices, technology and research findings with anyone, from students to vineyard workers, producers and colleagues.”
“We are extremely proud of Francois,” said Vinpro managing director Rico Basson. “He is a leader, mentor and pioneer with the Gen-Z Vineyard Project as his brainchild. Its foundation of ‘seeing is believing’ through the establishment of vineyard trials throughout the industry has fast-tracked knowledge transfer and will enable producers to be more nimble, innovative and sustainable.
“His feet are firmly on the ground – or rather in the vineyard. Always ready with a quip or story, Francois is an ever patient teacher with an incredible gift for conveying complex information in a simple way to any audience.”
Other awardees include Christine Rudman who received the sought-after wine appreciation and wine advancement award.
According to the International Wine and Spirits Competition website Rudman’s “love affair with wine” started when she joined the then Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery. She achieved her Cape Wine Master qualification in 1986 whereafter she ran the Cape Wine Academy for seven years. She has since been known for her consultancy work, wine judging, lecturing and writing.
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